When people read the Rule, though, the reaction is often along the lines of, "Er?"

To crack the nut somewhat more, between now and the Feast of Saint Dominic on August 8, I'll try to write a little more about the Four Pillars of Dominican Life, as lived by laity in the world, in the context of

ongoing formation (the pillar of Study)

the combination of the contemplative and the apostolic (the pillars of Prayer and Apostolate)

chapter life (the pillar of Community)

Just keep in mind that these sorts of questions don't have canonical answers, and that my own opinions and experiences don't necessarily match those of any other Lay Dominican.

* And that's without even getting into the fact that Dominican nuns and sisters are also laity.